When weak acids react with strong bases, the resulting salts tend to create basic solutions. Sodium acetate (CH3COONa) is a classic example. In water, it dissociates as follows:
CH3COONa 鈫 CH鈧僀OO鈦 + Na鈦
The sodium ion (Na鈦) doesn鈥檛 hydrolyze due to its origin from a strong base (NaOH). However, the acetate ion (CH鈧僀OO鈦), from acetic acid (a weak acid), reacts with water to produce OH鈦 ions, increasing the solution's pH:
CH鈧僀OO鈦 + H鈧侽 鈬 CH鈧僀OOH + OH鈦
The presence of hydroxide ions (OH鈦) turns the solution basic.
- Note that the conjugate base of a weak acid will engage in a hydrolysis reaction.
- Recognize that the overall solution becomes basic due to the release of OH鈦 ions.